Drones have struggled with reduction of noise, obtaining longer flight times, reducing size, component weight, and safety. Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, (AKM), has now started sampling of an integrated pre-driver IC, the AP1050 for 3-phase brushless motors. It reduces current consumption and drive noise while integrating the functions required for the Electric Speed Controller (ESC), implementing various protection functions while reducing size. It is also possible to build a system that controls multiple motors with one MCU.
Features
- Improved motor Efficiency and lower Driving Noise:
The AP1050 adopts the Field Oriented Control, (FOC), method which is vector control using sine waves to drive a motor. High frequency sound from the motor driver is suppressed with this method. In addition, system current can be reduced by about 20% to 30% compared to FOC driven via rectangular wave.
- Size and Weight Reduction by Integration of the IC with various Protection Functions:
The AP1050 integrates a system power supply, amplifiers for current sense, A/D converters (ADC), a PWM generator, and pre-drivers. Since the Electric Speed Controller, (ESC), can be configured only with the AP1050, an MCU, and FETs, the system can be made smaller and lighter. The AP1050 even integrates various protection functions, (undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, and thermal shutdown), contributing to increasing system safety.
- Multiple Motors can be controlled by one MCU:
- In previous systems, the same number of ADCs and PWM generators in the MCU were required, depending on the number of drive motors. By using the AP1050, it is possible to control multiple motors with one MCU and SPI interface. This will reduce the board size and cost.
Main Specifications
- Motor Drive Voltage: 8 to 36 V
- DC-DC Buck: 10 V/500 mA, FET, Synchronous Rectification
- LDO: 3.3 V/200 mA (External Circuit and DVDD connected)
- Pre-Driver: High-side Driver with Bootstrap Circuit, Dead Time Control Function
- VGA: +17 to 28 dB, 3 dB step, 2ch Synchronous Setting
- ADC: 12-bit, 2ch
- 4-Wire Serial Interface: CSB, SCK, SDI, SDO
- PWM Cycle Input/Output: INT
- Protection Function:
- Undervoltage Protection (VIN, VDC, LDOE)
- Overvoltage Protection (VIN, VDC, LDOE)
- Overcurrent Protection (DC-DC Buck, Pre-driver)
- Thermal Shutdown (TSD)
- Error Output Pin (ERRB)
- Operational Temperature Range: –40 to 105 °C
- Package: 48-pin QFN (7 × 7 mm)
- Mass Production: 2019 April
